Improvement in bolsters and steps



M. J. NEALON, T. HIGGINS &W. KNO TTQ BQLSTERS AND STEPS. No.186,749.Patented-Jan. 30, 1877.

WITNESSES: INVENTU E N.Pi-ITER$. PNOTD-LITHOGRfiFHER WASH NGTON D CMARTIN J. NEALON, TIMOTHY HIGGINS, AND WILLIAM KNOTT, OF CHESTER,PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BOLSTERS AND STEPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 186,749, dated January30, 1877 application filed September 22, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, M. J. NEALON, TIM- OTHY HIGGINS, and WILLIAM KNOTT,of Chester, in the county of Delaware and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Bolsters and Steps forSpindles 5 and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of thisspecification.

Our invention relates to an improvement in bolsters and steps forspindles; and it consists in holding the bolsters in position on therail by means of an adjustable slotted plate, which can be moved forwardagainst the bolsters to take up any wear in the same manner as the usualset-screw, but in a much cheaper and more reliable manner.

The accompanying drawing represents our invention.

a a represents an ordinary spindle; b, the middle rail; 0, the lowerrail; d, the bolster, and e the step.

Heretofore the bolsters have been held in position on the rail by meansof set-screws, which, passing through the side of the rail, have pressedagainst the side of the bolster, and by their pressure bound it inplace. Owing to the constant revolution of the spindle these bolstersare constantly working loose, and wearing the'hole in the rail largerand larger. When, then, the screws are tightened on the bolsters, theybear against and wear away the side of the hole on the opposite sidefrom the screw, and thus the screws are constantly pressing them backout of line; and as they are pressed back out of line, then the lowerend of the spindle binds on the step, and thus causes unnecessary wearand tear. Not only are these bolsters constantly working loose, andnecessitating the constant employment of a boy to keep them tightenedup, but the expense of the screw-work is very great. For every screwthere must be a hole drilled in the rail, countersunk and tapped, andthen the screw fitted to the hole.

We do away with the screw altogether,

and substitute therefor a plate, h, of suitable length, which is slottedat each end, and adjustably secured to the under side of the rail. Thisplate can be moved back and forth, and is intended to have its edgecatch in the notches 9, that are made in the sides of the lower ends ofthe bolsters, so as to prevent them from turning around. By means of theslots in the ends of the plate it can be adjusted as tightly as maybedesired against the bolsters, or moved out of contact with thementirely when it is desired to remove one or more of the bolsters fromthe rail. There will be about twelve of these plates to every twohundred and four spindles and in order to keep the pressure uniform onthe center and end spindles alike, holes i are made through the plates,through which pegs are passed into the rail.

The steps 6 have shoulders made around them to keep them from passingthrough the rail, and have a recess formed in their tops to receive theloose brass bushing 1. Around these bushings is formed an oil-chamber,2, which holds a sufficient quantity of oil to keep the lower end of thespindle constantly lubricated. By means of this loose bushing, wheneverit is worn out the bushing can be replaced, and thus the step lastforever.

We are aware that the lower ends of the bolsters have been groovedcircumferentially, and that a spring has been made to catch over andaround the ends of these bolsters in the grooves, for the purpose ofpreventing the bolster from rising in the rail; but where a spring isused in this manner, a separate and distinct springis needed for eachbolster,

and each bolster must be separately fastened,

and there is nothing to prevent the bolster from turning around. Where aslotted plate is used any number of bolsters can be secured at the sametime, and by the same movement, and every one instantly released by thesame movement. Not only is the plate cheaper and more easily adjustedthan so many different springs, but it is impossible for the bolsters toturn in the rail, orthe plate to get lost, as is the case with thesprings. Another advantage of the plate over the springs is, that thebolsters need only a slight groove on'one side alone, where there aretwo grooves, or one continuous one entirely around the end for thesprings.

Having thus described our invention, we olaim The adjustable slottedplate h, in combination with the rail and the notched bolsters 01, as ameans of holding the bolsters in position, substantially as shown.

In testimony that we ela'iinthe foregoing we have hereunto set our handsand seals this 18th day of September, 1876.

MARTIN J. NEALON. L. s.] TIMOTHY HIGGINS. {It s.] WILLIAM KNOTT. 114sWitnesses:

W. G. HEALEY, G. E. LEVIS.

